The Boots My Mother Gave Me by Brooklyn James is a great coming of age fiction novel that anybody can relate to. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Feisty tomboy, Harley LeBeau puts in the drivers seat as she puts you in the boots that her mother gave her and takes you a long for a wild ride. Although she is faced with a difficult choice, she chooses to save herself and escape an abuse childhood even though it means leaving her mother and younger sister behind. Along the way she finds her independence, spreads her wings and truly finds herself. She also learns to trust in love and in herself.
The book cover for this one threw me and to be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to reading it based on that alone. But, that all changed once I cracked it open. The Books My Mother Gave Me is surprisingly deep and thoughtful and examines the dynamics of abuse relationships and what it takes to overcome one. I have always been one of those women who has never understood why a woman would stay in an abusive relationship, but this book definitely opened my eyes and now I feel more compassionate. It is a tough choice especially when children are involved and this book digs deep to make you see that. I loved this story from the get go and Harley is a surprising hero as she stands up to her situation and makes some very solid decisions. Overall, a fantastic read that I highly recommend to any and all women.
And as a bonus, the author has compiled a music playlist that is also available for download. It’s very fun and definitely fits the many moods of the book. You should check it out.
[Rating: 4.5/5]
